Very late to the puzzle this week - found myself filling in silvers and blanks before I had half of the regular clues - quite good fun except I have ground to a halt on 1 down and 4 down - as usual didn't use pencil and with so many alterations can't quite see which letters should remain - help please - I want to be done with it !! Thanks in advance.
Patgreg, 1&4d. both come from another country, but are in Chambers. 1d. is an anagram.
4d. is 'cruel', with an extra letter, + 2 single letter selections.
Thanks Mattrom - I had confidently put my "money" where I thought it right - and ruined any chance of getting the proper solutions! Also I had made the mistake of staring at it for too long and not walking away ! Thanks again - all sorted now !
My objection to the third unclued thematic across is nothing to do with the crossword - which is very clever; thank you, Kruger. It is the gross historical inaccuracy of the thematic original: he didn’t, he fled the scene. It was La Rochelle where he did. Pedantic rant over!
Hi Thom, well done, but I can"t get 8 down. Please can you help me? I get oart of the clue - the last 3 letters. Also, I have 6d as an anagram of 'one blue' with o as the extra letter, and the entry begining with n, hope I've got this rifht? LOL!
Slugabed, it may help get you there to say that the “characteristic sound” could be of a bird or a whale. Your 6d looks right; there should be an empty cell in the entry.